Embracing complexity, with April McCabe
April is the director of Social Strategy and engagement at The Planning Studio. She is a policy specialist working within government and the private sector for over 20 years across strategic land-use planning; place-making; and social and cultural policy. April is passionate about cities and the different needs of genders.
What do you love about cities?
I think the fascinating and beautiful thing about cities is that they have this ability to be the physical embodiment of those intangible but critical aspects of community and in humanity in general. If cities and places are designed right, it provides cues for the intended use, but it also doesn't prevent people from making it their own – and I love that.
What changes have you seen in cities over the past 20 years that matter the most to you?
I've seen a massive shift in the increased visibility and celebration of cultural diversity through our cities. That wasn't the case years ago. Certain places were seen as enclaves of cultural difference or even poverty and social disadvantage. And now, we see them as these really thriving, fascinating parts of who we are. Also, we are more conscious of building a symbiotic relationship to our natural environment; and rather than building over the top of it, we're trying to build with it. I think we're at the really early stages, but when I first started 20 years ago, we weren't talking about urban canopy and heat islands.
Tell us about a project/s you’ve worked on that has been most important to you?
(When I was with Cred Consulting) we did a piece of research for the city of Sydney and the C40 Women4Climate initiative to understand specific barriers for women in using active transport as a primary mode of transport. Usually, when we talk about gender in cities, it's all about safety; it's all about lights and pram rooms but not a wider experience. So, we put ourselves in her shoes to understand barriers to active transport.
How did this project/s shape your professional practice?
I think that engagement with communities and understanding the social impact and the community benefit has to be part of the upfront technical work – equal to transport and environmental impact – because there’s no point trying to retrofit it at the end.
What are the outcomes you strive for in every project?
An important part of my own individual practice is about building capability in Councils and local communities so they can take on what we started and evolve the strategy. I love to come back ten years later and find other people’s fingerprints all over my original strategy as it shows they are making it their own.
It’s a real privilege to build trust with people so they can tell me their story and what they’d like for the future. Like an archaeologist, I dig deeper to uncover what they might be too afraid to say or find something they don’t even realise they are doing.
“I love to come back ten years later and find other people’s fingerprints all over my original strategy as it shows they are making it their own.”
What are the key practices you draw upon to help you achieve these outcomes?
My individual approach to projects starts with a blank sheet, open ears, and an open and generous mind.
What's one piece of advice you would give to emerging urban leaders?
I advise any emerging leader to embrace the complexity. Understand the privileged position that you're in and take on the responsibility as city makers. Don't ever consider someone hard to reach, just go and find them and have a chat. And be brave and enjoy the stories.
